Silver Springs State Park

By now everyone that knows me or follows me on social media knows that I absolutely LOVE Silver Springs State Park located near Ocala, Florida. In fact I can easily say it's my favorite park that I have been to in the great state of Florida! Since I get quite a few questions about what there is to do and see at the park I figured I would put it all together here! So here is a little Q&A:

(Q) Where is it? (A) Ocala, Fl. About an hour and a half from Tampa! Not too far from Paynes Prairie State Park!

(Q) Can you swim there? (A) No, to preserve the park and minimize interaction with the animals you can not swim at silver springs BUT you can kayak, do clear bottom boat tours, paddle board, and canoe! You can rent kayaks online at the park’s website, or take a tour with @getupandgosilversprings (on IG)  in one of their clear kayaks (super fun way to get to know the area with a guide!) You can kayak the loop (shortest paddle), The 5.2 mile stretch to wayside park and shuttle back or get picked up, or you can kayak downstream to wayside and then back upstream to the launch (about 11 miles).

(Q) what animals can you see in the state park? (A) Alligators, manatees, Rhesus Macaques monkeys, turtles, Tri-colored Herons, Little & Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Red-bellied and Pileated woodpeckers, White Ibis, Limpkins, Osprey, Red Shouldered Hawks, Anhinga, Double Crested Cormorants, Common Gallinule, Wood Ducks, & other types of birds! Not to mention the variety of fish!

Also fun to note parts of the movies The Creature From the Black Lagoon, Tarzan, James Bond: Moonraker and other movies were filmed here! Additionally Silver Springs is said to be the largest artesian spring in the world!

You can also Camp, bike, and hike the park! There is so much to love and learn about Silver Springs and so much more I could add, but I truly think that’s it’s one of the most underrated State Parks in Florida! So with that I will encourage you to visit and enjoy!